Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival

Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival is a local event occurring in various venues around Brighstone and Mottistone on the Isle of Wight in England for the winter tourist season. This charitable event raises money for local and national charities

The Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival began in 1996 and has since been able to raise nearly £100,000 for Island and national charities. The festivities traditionally start on a Wednesday with a tree lighting ceremony in Brighstone Church in aid of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice. This event has attracts over 7,000 tourists each year.

In 2009, Sally Taylor MBE, anchor of BBC South Today, led the lighting of the “Tree of Joy” at the Brighstone Methodist Church and more recently Alan Titchmarsh was a guest of honour too.

The annual festival is held at St. Mary’s Church, the Methodist Church, the Wilberforce Hall, the Social Club and the Three Bishops Pub in Brighstone, The Isle of Wight Pearl on the Military Rd and at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church in nearby Mottistone. A Park & Ride system is in place and operates from the Isle of Wight Pearl bringing people into Brighstone where a further shuttle service conveys people to Mottistone and back.

Brighstone also has numerous attractions for visitors, including a church dating back to 1190 and a museum with a Victorian design.

The highlight of the celebration is the showcasing of over 200 theme decorated Christmas trees exhibited by charities, associations, businesses, families, and individuals. The festivities include carol services, military band concerts, choir singing, and the lighting of the hospice tree, which marks the beginning of the four-day event. There is also a Christmas gift and craft fair. Admission is free but donations are welcomed.

Entries are created and displayed by chariies, clubs, schools, individuals, groups, and businesses, making this one of the biggest Christmas festivals in England. In the west of the island, this is a major event and many locals contribute. The churches are decorated, and banners put up across the Back of the Wight.

Many organizations, such as the National Health Service, RSPCA, and local charities, use their trees to give information, appeal for money, or raise awareness.

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Wikipedia